Resumption of a near-normal bark can occur within months following a non-therapeutic devocalization procedure thereby negating any perceived benefits.

Due to animal welfare concerns, non-therapeutic devocalization is prohibited in a number of jurisdications including the United Kingdom (The Animal Welfare Act, which primarily extends to England and Wales) (3), the European Union (European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals) (4), and in the states of Massachusetts, Maryland, and New Jersey in the United States (5).

The key to controlling undesirable barking is to treat the underlying cause of the barking (i.e., separation anxiety, protective/guarding reaction). Devocalization of a dog as a solution to unwanted barking behaviour without treating the underlying cause of barking commonly results in the dog beginning to engage in unacceptable alternative behaviours induced by fear or anxiety (6).

Barking is a normal canine behaviour used as a means of communication in activities such as playing, greeting, alerting/protection, and issuing warnings. It has been suggested that barking may have evolved to include interspecies communication from the dog to humans rather than just intra-species communication (7).

Excessive barking in dogs can arise for multiple reasons. For example, anxiety in dogs can result from boredom, poor socialization, and separation from the owner thereby leading to behavioural responses including excessive barking. In all cases of excessive barking, a veterinarian should be consulted in conjunction with a certified and experienced trainer or behaviourist to determine the underlying cause(s) and recommend a treatment program to mitigate excessive barking. If behavioural pharmacology (i.e., administration of drugs) is indicated as an adjunct to behavioural modification, as might be the case with separation anxiety-induced excessive vocalization, a qualified veterinarian must be consulted.

Excessive barking caused by anxiety is not effectively corrected using aversive training methods (e.g., use of electronic collars) as they can further increase anxiety (8,9). Such methods should only be considered for situations in which barking is not related to anxiety (such as in a high stimulus environment), and in all cases should only be used by a certified and experienced trainer or behaviourist after all other training and/or behaviour modification methods have failed (10-12, 13).